ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
340,000 vehicles affected
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
410,000 vehicles affected
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BMW 540I. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SURGED WITH INCREASED ACCELERATION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V131000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,774.
THE BILSTEIN SHOCK ABSORBERS I PURCHASED FOR MY CAR HAVE BEGUN TO COME APART WHICH ALLOWS THE STRUT TO MOVE WHEN AND WHERE IT SHOULDN'T THIS MAKING THE CAR EASY TO LOSE CONTROL OF. THE CAR PULLS AND DARTS WHILE MAINTAINING A STRAIGHT COURSE IN MOTION. IT'S WORSE WHEN STEERING SINCE THE BUSTED PART HAS BECOME A MOVABLE LINK RATHER THAN A FIXED LINK. THE SHOCKS ARE DEFECTIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE BILSTEIN PART NUMBER FOR THE SHOCK INSERT IS S4-P36 3019 HO
THE BILSTEIN SHOCK ABSORBERS I PURCHASED FOR MY CAR HAVE BEGUN TO COME APART WHICH ALLOWS THE STRUT TO MOVE WHEN AND WHERE IT SHOULDN'T THIS MAKING THE CAR EASY TO LOSE CONTROL OF. THE CAR PULLS AND DARTS WHILE MAINTAINING A STRAIGHT COURSE IN MOTION. IT'S WORSE WHEN STEERING SINCE THE BUSTED PART HAS BECOME A MOVABLE LINK RATHER THAN A FIXED LINK. THE SHOCKS ARE DEFECTIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE BILSTEIN PART NUMBER FOR THE SHOCK INSERT IS S4-P36 3019 HO
ADDENDUM TO ODI ID NUMBER 10439751 THE FIRE WAS STARTED BECAUSE THE IHKRIII HVAC UNIT, WHICH CAN BE FOUND IN AN EXTREMELY LARGE NUMBER OF BMW MODELS, IN MY CAR WAS CONFIGURED INCORRECTLY BY THE MANUFACTURER, BMW. THE BLOWER MOTOR IS ON A ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT USES A 30AMP FUSE RECOMMENDED BY BMW, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE FUSE BOX COVER, TO REGULATE THE RATE THE BLOWER MOTOR CAN RECEIVE 12VOLTS. WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR ITSELF REQUIRES 12VOLTS AT A RATE OF 12AMPS TO OPERATE NORMALLY. WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR BEGINS TO FAIL, THE RESISTANCE IN THE CIRCUIT DROPS AND INCREASES THE RATE AT WHICH THE BLOWER MOTOR RECEIVES 12VOLTS, INCREASING THE AMPS (CURRENT) IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, WHICH ALSO INCREASES THE WATTAGE THE BLOWER UNIT RECEIVES. AMPS X VOLTS = WATTS, THE UNIT NEEDS 12AMPS X 12VOLTS = 144WATTS TO OPERATE, BUT ENDS UP GETTING 30AMPS X 12VOLTS = 360WATTS. THAT IS 216WATTS MORE THAN THE BLOWER MOTOR SHOULD RECEIVE. WHICH IS WHY THE BLOWER MOTOR AND THE FINAL STAGE RESISTOR WHICH ARE BOTH ON THE SAME ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT HEAT UP TO EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES THAT CAN EASILY CAUSE 3RD DEGREE BURNS, AND ALLOWED THE COMPONENTS TO IGNITE THE TREE LEAVES AND PINE NEEDLES THAT WERE BEING FILTERED. EVERY UNIT THAT IS CONFIGURED IN THIS WAY IS A FIRE HAZARD, AND IS DANGEROUS TO EVERYONE BECAUSE THE FIRE CAN START ANYTIME THE BLOWER MOTOR IS USED, AND THERE IS NO WAY OF TELLING IT IS FAILING UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE AND THERE IS A FIRE INSIDE OF YOUR CAR. I'M DISGUSTED THAT BMW HAS ELECTRICAL SPECS FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR, AND FOR THE FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR AND REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR ADMIT FAULT. BMW IS OK WITH LETTING PEOPLE DRIVE CARS THAT CAN CATCH FIRE AND PUT LIVES AT RISK BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO PROVE THE ORIGIN OF A FIRE AFTER THE ENTIRE CAR IS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE MODELS ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE THIS. *TR
Fire
ADDENDUM TO ODI ID NUMBER 10439751 THE FIRE WAS STARTED BECAUSE THE IHKRIII HVAC UNIT, WHICH CAN BE FOUND IN AN EXTREMELY LARGE NUMBER OF BMW MODELS, IN MY CAR WAS CONFIGURED INCORRECTLY BY THE MANUFACTURER, BMW. THE BLOWER MOTOR IS ON A ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT USES A 30AMP FUSE RECOMMENDED BY BMW, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE FUSE BOX COVER, TO REGULATE THE RATE THE BLOWER MOTOR CAN RECEIVE 12VOLTS. WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR ITSELF REQUIRES 12VOLTS AT A RATE OF 12AMPS TO OPERATE NORMALLY. WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR BEGINS TO FAIL, THE RESISTANCE IN THE CIRCUIT DROPS AND INCREASES THE RATE AT WHICH THE BLOWER MOTOR RECEIVES 12VOLTS, INCREASING THE AMPS (CURRENT) IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, WHICH ALSO INCREASES THE WATTAGE THE BLOWER UNIT RECEIVES. AMPS X VOLTS = WATTS, THE UNIT NEEDS 12AMPS X 12VOLTS = 144WATTS TO OPERATE, BUT ENDS UP GETTING 30AMPS X 12VOLTS = 360WATTS. THAT IS 216WATTS MORE THAN THE BLOWER MOTOR SHOULD RECEIVE. WHICH IS WHY THE BLOWER MOTOR AND THE FINAL STAGE RESISTOR WHICH ARE BOTH ON THE SAME ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT HEAT UP TO EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES THAT CAN EASILY CAUSE 3RD DEGREE BURNS, AND ALLOWED THE COMPONENTS TO IGNITE THE TREE LEAVES AND PINE NEEDLES THAT WERE BEING FILTERED. EVERY UNIT THAT IS CONFIGURED IN THIS WAY IS A FIRE HAZARD, AND IS DANGEROUS TO EVERYONE BECAUSE THE FIRE CAN START ANYTIME THE BLOWER MOTOR IS USED, AND THERE IS NO WAY OF TELLING IT IS FAILING UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE AND THERE IS A FIRE INSIDE OF YOUR CAR. I'M DISGUSTED THAT BMW HAS ELECTRICAL SPECS FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR, AND FOR THE FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR AND REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR ADMIT FAULT. BMW IS OK WITH LETTING PEOPLE DRIVE CARS THAT CAN CATCH FIRE AND PUT LIVES AT RISK BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO PROVE THE ORIGIN OF A FIRE AFTER THE ENTIRE CAR IS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE MODELS ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE THIS. *TR
Fire
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A SCREECHING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE SCREECHING OCCURRED WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED OR NOT. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. HOWEVER, THE SCREECHING BRAKE PROBLEM WAS STILL EVIDENT. ALSO, CONSUMER BECAME LOCKED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT GET OUT DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A SCREECHING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE SCREECHING OCCURRED WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED OR NOT. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. HOWEVER, THE SCREECHING BRAKE PROBLEM WAS STILL EVIDENT. ALSO, CONSUMER BECAME LOCKED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT GET OUT DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A SCREECHING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE SCREECHING OCCURRED WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED OR NOT. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. HOWEVER, THE SCREECHING BRAKE PROBLEM WAS STILL EVIDENT. ALSO, CONSUMER BECAME LOCKED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT GET OUT DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE GEARSHIFT CAME OFF RESULTING A MULTI CAR ACCIDENT AND CAUSED MAJOR INJURIES. NLM
Crash
1 injured
A COOLANT FAILURE JUST LIKE MENTIONED RECALL # 98 V 178 000 COOLANT SYSTEM. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. HAD PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER'S SIDE LEAKING COOLANT/ VISIBILITY PROBLEM WITH WINDOW GETTING FOGGED, AND A STRONG ODOR INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALER TOOK CARE OF THE RECALL AFTER SOME CONFRONTATION WITH CONSUMER, BUT,,AFTERWARDS SIMILAR PROBLEMS REAPPEARED, AND DEALER WAS REFUSING TO REPAIR VEHICLE FOR THE SECOND TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN EMISSIONS RECALL FOR MY 1995 BWM 540I. I CONTACTED BMWUSA TO CONFIRM THE DATA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VECHICLE WAS LISTED AS A TOTAL LOST AND NOT COVERED. I REGISTERED THE CAR WITH BMWUSA WHEN I PURCHASED IT IN 1999 AND WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THE CAR WAS LISTED AS TOTALLED. WHAT AVENUES DO I TAKE TO GET THE CAR ACTIVATED AGAIN IN THE SYSTEM? THE CAR IS INSURED, BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND THE CAR IS ALREADY LISTED AS A TOTAL LOST? I PURCHASED THE VECHICLE IN 1999 UNAWARE THAT I WOULD ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH BMWUSA WOULD HAD INFORMED ME OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN I REGISTERED THE VECHICLE WITH THEM IN NOVEMBER, 1999.*AK
TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT. I FOUND TWO EARLIER REPORTS TO BMW..BMW WILL NOT MAKE ALLOWANCES...ENGINE SHORT BLOCK REPLACED BY BMW AT 84,500 MILES UNDER 2ND OWNER. TRANS WOULD DOWN SHIFT CREATING A DRAG ON CAR...DEALER TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL../OTHER PA DEALER ON SECOND OWNER SAID THE SAME (NO PROBLEM - NORMAL). THE TRANS IS A SEALED UNIT...THERFORE NO CHANGE OF FLUID RECOMMENDED. IS THIS RIGHT??? IS THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM IN SLICK OR SNOWY/ICY WEATHER??
TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT. I FOUND TWO EARLIER REPORTS TO BMW..BMW WILL NOT MAKE ALLOWANCES...ENGINE SHORT BLOCK REPLACED BY BMW AT 84,500 MILES UNDER 2ND OWNER. TRANS WOULD DOWN SHIFT CREATING A DRAG ON CAR...DEALER TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL../OTHER PA DEALER ON SECOND OWNER SAID THE SAME (NO PROBLEM - NORMAL). THE TRANS IS A SEALED UNIT...THERFORE NO CHANGE OF FLUID RECOMMENDED. IS THIS RIGHT??? IS THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM IN SLICK OR SNOWY/ICY WEATHER??
THE FRONT SEATS CABLES MALFUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE SEATS TWIST. DEALER CONTACTED. THEY CONFIRMED THAT "THIS IS A STANDARD PROBLEM".
THE DRIVERS SEAT RAIL FRAME BECOMES LOOSE DUE TO ELONGATED BOLT HOLES, SUBSEQUENTLY, THE SEAT ROCKS DURING NORMAL USE. SEEMS THIS MIGHT BE A PROBLEM SHOULD THE VEHICLE BE IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK